Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Kilimanjaro Marathon!

Just found out that there is a marathon, half marathon and 5 k fun run in Moshi-town on March 3.  The marathon runs up into the lower reaches of Mt. Kilimanjaro . . . not that I intend to participate or anything.  But I'm thinking the 5 k fun run might be just that -- fun. 

Moshi is where we always stay when we first arrive in Tanzania.  Many of our friends live there, as well as many of the women who produce our wonderful batiks.  The hostel where we have stayed in the past is completely booked up with runners and fans!  So this will be a new adventure in a lot of ways.

Found my suitcase finally, and am now beginning to organize my thoughts as to what to pack and what to leave.  Set out everything I think I want to take; next day reduce it by half; and then reduce it by half again.  Then pack! 

Sunday, February 24, 2013

WOW!  This trip is shaping up to be great!

We have booked our travel from Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania to Entebbe Airport in Uganda.  Uganda is where our basket weavers live; it has been several years since I have had the opportunity to return to visit them.  Last visit, they gave Mary Ann and me a goat!  We regretfully left it behind in Uganda, and asked the women to hold a feast in our honor after we left.  It is fairly difficult to bring a goat back from Uganda to the US!

And, talk about a God thing:  Kathy (my travel companion, along with her husband, Stan; as well an Asante volunteer extraordinaire!) and I have been talking about the difficulty of communication with our woman in TZ who coordinates and reports on all of Asante's micro-loans.  She has an ancient computer without excel, so all her calculations have to be done by hand.  Kathy and I, independently of each other, have been thinking about how to get Julie a new computer with excel, so we could set up some spreadsheets for her micro-loan reporting.

Kathy and I were visiting on the phone the other day, and when we realized both of us were thinking along the same computer lines, we agreed that it was best to simply purchase a new laptop for Julie.  We both checked out the ads and found a good HP at BestBuy for a decent price.  I agreed to drive into Anchorage to check it out. 

As I was hanging up the phone with Kathy, another friend from up here knocked on my door.  We visited, had a cup of tea, and talked about my upcoming trip.  I happened to mention the discussion about the computer and  . . . as she was walking out the door, she handed me a donation to Asante, to cover the cost of the computer!  Talk about God working in this trip.

So, Julie will have a wonderful new computer, and we have the excitement of being the ones to deliver it to her. Can't wait!

More tomorrow . . .


Thursday, February 21, 2013

Jambo, everyone.

I know, it has been almost 2 years since my last post, but I haven't been back to Tanzania since then.  However, I am returning to Tanzania and Uganda on 1 March.  Kathy and Stan (we traveled together last trip) will be along as well.  We are all excited about our upcoming adventures!

We are planning to visit the Miichi Women in Moshi and Mwika to work on some new designs for both garments and batiks.  We'll also be able to follow up with some of our micro-loan recipients and meet some new ones. 

In Mwika, we are going to visit with James, who started his own pre-school!  He is also starting a guide service for some of the National Parks, and we are going to get to visit Tarangire National Park with his pre-schoolers!  What an amazing treat that will be. 

Naturally, a visit to Tanzania isn't complete without a trip to check in with the wonderful Maasai women who create the beaded jewelry and crafts, up in Ketumbeine.  It is always a gift to reconnect with Steve and Bethany, who are a medical missionary family in that village. 

Uganda is on the agenda as well -- I was sorry not to have the time last trip to get over there and meet again with the women who created the beautiful baskets that Asante sells. 

So, stay tuned for more as the date of departure approaches . . .

Cheers